Civil marriages are not permitted in Israel. However, tourists can now finalise civil marriage contracts in the UAE Capital
Abu Dhabi, UAE : An Israeli couple, on Monday, November 21, got married at the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, as civil marriages are not allowed in Israel, a special report by Ismaiil Sebugwaawo in the Khaleej Times says.
After the ceremony a thrilled Dmitri Sedov (26), told Khaleej Times “I am very happy and excited to marry my financee Elena Gladovsky (41). We are now husband and wife.”
Originally from Russia, the couple met in April 2021 at a store in Tel Aviv where Dmitri was working. He now works as a supervisor at a Tel Aviv call centre
In Israel civil marriages are not permitted according to the laws of the countrry, and only religious leaders can perform marriage ceremonies. That’s why getting married in Israel was absolutely impossible for the couple since Dmitri is a Jew, while Elena is a Christian.
Dmitri says , “We are an unusual couple; our religion is different, and the age difference between us is 15 years. And this year, we have been blessed with a daughter, but we are very happy in our unusual tandem.”
“We chose to wed here in Abu Dhabi and we are very happy to have legitimised our love in this beautiful city.”
Beamiing with excitement Elena says. “I am really delighted to have had our marriage here in Abu Dhabi. It’s a cool and amazing city”.
“My best and longtime friend lives in Abu Dhabi and I visited the UAE a year ago, and I was completely delighted with the country – with the (law and) order, cleanliness, and intelligence of the inhabitants”, she adds.
Elaborating further on how the two met and fell in love, Dmitrri, says “I was working in a clothing and accessories store at the time. Lena (nickname for Elena) came to the store to buy a bag. While she was shopping, we talked and briefly got to know each other”.
“We didn’t keep in touch after that. But it so happened that I moved to a new apartment, and Lena’s clothing store was in the same building. I was completely unaware of this and didn’t immediately find out”, Dmitri adds with a shy smile and a twinkle in his eyes.
He went on to declare with a triumphant air: “But as they say, you can’t escape fate. Since then, Lena and I have been together, and here we are, legally married and already having a 4-month-old baby.”
The couple applied online for a civil marriage in Abu Dhabi and were given November 21 as a date for their ceremony. According to a judicial official, about six Israeli couples recently married at the Abu Dhabi civil marriage court.
“We were really happy with the quick approval and how easy the process has been so far. The application process was very easy and cheap, and the marriage service has been fantastic,” said Dmitri, adding that the judicial officials have been helpful from the application process until the day of their marriage ceremony.
The Abu Dhabi civil marriage process is entirely separate from the UAE’s state marriage system, which is based on Islamic teachings.
About 4,700 civil marriages have been performed at Abu Dhabi’s new family court since the UAE Capital implemented the new law, allowing civil marriages in Abu Dhabi for the first time.
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